3rd Founding

The 3rd Founding of the Space Marines occurred during the first year of the 32nd Millennium. This Founding included two Successor Chapters created from the gene-seed of the Imperial Fists and the Blood Angels, respectively - both brutal and highly aggressive Chapters. Since this Founding occurred not long after the Horus Heresy and the Great Scouring, it is more than likely that the High Lords of Terra felt they need such brutal and ruthless Chapters to strike fear into the Imperial populace and scare them into compliance during those tumultuous times. These ferocious Chapters would have most likely wreaked terrible slaughter on those who opposed Imperial rule, and due to their bellicose and merciless natures, developed a savage culture as a result.

The Executioners are scions of the proud line of the Imperial Fists. Founded under the command of Fafnir Rann, reputedly the most vicious of PrimarchRogal Dorn's later Captains, they were created for the sole task of seeking out and slaughtering Mankind's foes rather than undertaking a more defensive or strategic purpose.

The Scythes of the Emperor, are a fierce and proud Chapter created from the lineage of Roboute Guilliman. Their origins can be traced back to the bygone era of the Horus Heresy, when they were originally members of the UltramarinesLegion's 199th "Aegida" Company, who were assigned as sentinels over the restricted world of Sotha, and the mysterious xenos artefact known as the Pharos. Following the Second Founding in 021.M31, Guilliman charged the remaining members of Aegida Company with continued watch over the secrets of the Pharos as an 11th ghost company, in direct contradiction of the dictates of the Codex Astartes. Later, during the 3rd Founding in 001.M32, Captain Oberdeii, the last surviving member of Aegida Company, was reassigned as the first Chapter Master of a newly created Chapter which he renamed the "Scythes of the Emperor." They continued their vigil over Sotha and the surrounding sectors in the Ultima Segmentum. Recently, they faced near-annihilation at the hands of the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Kraken in 992.M41. Though severely depleted, the surviving Battle-Brothers of the Scythes have vowed to wipe out the remnants of the Tyranids in the Ultima Segmentum, even while they continue with their efforts to rebuild the Chapter.

The Scythes of the Emperor can trace their long glorious history to the dark days of the Horus Heresy when they were a part of the UltramarinesLegion's 199th "Aegida" Company, assigned as permanent protection over the world of Sotha and the mysterious alien artefact known as the Pharos.